Taking a Stand: Kathe Kollwitz : With Interventions by Mona Hatoum

Raw, unprettified and decried in conservative circles as “gutter art”: Käthe Kollwitz employed her art uncompromisingly as a political voice for the social and human misery of her time. Her focus always lay on the dignity of humankind. The volume provides a wide-ranging insight into the commitment and creative work of the artist, whose achievements are more topical than ever. The book covers the entire spectrum of Kollwitz’ creative work with the world-famous cycles of graphic works A Weavers’ Revolt and Peasants’ War, rare proofs and moving drawings and sculptures, thereby showing all facets of her masterful skills. The political dimension of Kollwitz’ art becomes tangible in a particularly impressive manner through her posters. The unbroken validity of her work is demonstrated in a juxtaposition with the interventions by the artist Mona Hatoum (b. 1952), which revolve around topics such as vulnerability, persecution and the experience of conflict.

Examines the art and passion of Käthe Kollwitz, who used art to bring a voice to political issues.

Raw, unprettified, and decried in conservative circles as “gutter art,” Käthe Kollwitz employed her art uncompromisingly as a political voice for the social and human misery of her time. Her focus always lay on the dignity of humankind. Taking a Stand provides wide-ranging insight into the commitment and creative work of the artist, whose achievements are more topical than ever. It covers the entire spectrum of Kollwitz’s creative work, including the world-famous cycles of the graphic works A Weavers’ Revolt and Peasants’ War, rare proofs, moving drawings, and sculptures, each of which showcases all facets of her masterful skills. The political dimension of Kollwitz’s art becomes tangible in a particularly impressive manner through her posters. The unbroken validity of her work is demonstrated in a juxtaposition with the interventions by the contemporary artist Mona Hatoum, which revolve around topics such as vulnerability, persecution, and the experience of conflict.